In this song, Indian Summer was a metaphor for a romance that had begun in June and had faded by Indian Summer.

What really is Indian Summer?

Unseasonably warm, dry days and calm weather with a hazy or smoky atmosphere and cold clear nights, following a frost in late Autumn. This occurs mainly in the Midwest and Northeast.

We just had a lovely period of 60 and 70 degree days, but now we are back to the 50’s.

The scarlet leaves of my Red Oak have turned to russet. While many of the colorful leaves are gone from trees and shrubs, there’s still plenty of interest at ground level.

Red Oak (Quercus rubra) in November.

Under the Red Oak: The fall leaves of Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) are even more colorful than their spring flowers.

The plumes of Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolis heterolepsis) are exquisite.

The lavender-blue flowers of Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum leave) are still blooming, contrasting with its now burgundy foliage.

Smooth Blue Aster will thrive in full sun in the prairie or part shade in the savanna.

Smooth Blue Aster will grow 4-6’ tall in the garden, unless pinched back severely in the summer; while in the prairie, with more competition, it only grows 1-3’.

New to me this year, the foliage of Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana) turns to rubies in the fall. A cousin of the more familiar Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), it forms a 18-24” tall and around clump. The lavender daisy-like flowers bloom in early June. Versatile, It grows in dry or mesic prairies or savannas. It is found in Southern Illinois and Cook and Kendall Counties in the Chicago area.

The autumn copper, flame, topaz, and emerald blades of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) are exquisite. Because of my fear that it would spread aggressively in the narrow border that I located it in, I planted only 1 plant. In 15 years, I now have 2 plants. The tallest of the tall grasses, it grows 6-8’ tall.

Prairie Dropseed serves as an edging and a matrix. It, too, turns to flame in the fall.

The chocolate seed head candelabras of Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) are a standout in every fall and winter garden. Attractive in 3 seasons, its white flowers bloom in July and August on 3-6’ stems in prairie or savanna. It’s golden pollen is especially attractive to bees.

Native prairie and savanna gardens are so diverse that there is interest every month of the year.

4 Responses to Farewell, Indian Summer

Wow, Pat! Fall colors, Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra too! The youtube link had me searching for Frank’s version. I think this is it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11eUAoFuoVQ Wonderful reminder of fall’s treasures. Even the russets turning to browns find their way to my canvas. Each day is a treasure.